CHENNAI: Festivity is in the air, on the roads, and in Facebook posts. The end of the year is usually a time to celebrate as people prepare to ring out the old and ring in the new. But for some, especially those who are battling some kind of adversity – be it sickness, financial loss, or loss of a loved one – the festive season brings increased feelings of anxiety and stress, otherwise known as ‘holiday blues’.
"You want to be with other people during festive occasions, very few enjoy being alone. And when you see everyone around happy and jolly and you cannot feel it, you feel you will ruin the occasion for others also," says psychiatrist Dr N Rangarajan. "Some may go hang out with others and feel morose, others may isolate themselves, and some may feel suicidal or drink heavily."
That’s because they may feel they have nothing to look forward to. "Everyone is celebrating the birth of a new year and looking forward to something nice happening, and you may be feeling hopeless," says Dr Rangarajan. "You may have a negative perception of yourself, your future and your environment, which is the cognitive triad of depression."
